Chapter Four

Hermione arrived back at the dorm to find Draco on the couch with some of his friends. They were all bull shitting until she came in.

"Oh… I'm sorry. I forgot you have company. I can go-."

"No, don't worry about it. I was actually hoping you'd be able to make some of those cookies you made the other night. I was telling the guys how good your cooking is."

"Did I miss something here?"

"Sorry. This is Blaise, Marcus, and Alex. I told them if they wanted to hang out here, they had to be on their best behavior."

"And we all decided that the prospect of homemade cookies was worth making a friend of someone new," Blaise added.

"How good did you tell them my cookies were?"

"They are really great…"

"Look, Granger, we don't really care about any of that old stuff, if that's what you're worried about," Marcus said while Alex nodded his agreement.

"Sorry. I'm still getting used to the idea of this one not wanting to kill me. Did you guys eat supper yet? If I'm going to cook, I may as well go all out."

She ended up making breaded chicken, mashed potatoes, and salad as well as the cookies she put in the oven when they sat down to eat.

"This is incredible, Hermione. Where did you learn how to cook?" Alex asked between bites.

"My mom started teaching me when I was really little, and I grew to love it."

"So all of this was made the Muggle way? No spells involved?"

"Nope. That takes all the fun out of it." The timer went off for the cookies and she got up to check on them.

As she bent over to look in the oven at them, she heard Blaise say, "How did we never notice how hot she was?"

"I know, right?" came Draco's response.

She ignored her heart's momentary stutter and pulled the cookies out of the oven. The smell of chocolate filled the room. She smiled at the quiet that fell behind her and Marcus' comment of, "God, those smell good."

"They should be cool enough when we've finished eating. I think there might even be ice cream in the freezer."

"I'm thinking that if you'll marry me and cook like this every day, I could make you a very happy woman," Blaise said and took her hand in his. "How about it?"

"Oh, shove off," she responded. "I think you could do the dishes once we're finished here."

"Will I get an extra cookie?"

"Perhaps."

"Not fair!" everyone else chorused and she laughed.

"Easy boys, there's enough for everyone."

She found herself having more fun that she could remember, though by the end of the night, she was talked into not only attending a party they were throwing, but also making dinner every Thursday night from then on.

She fell asleep with a smile on her face.

The next day, Harry stopped her outside of the Great Hall. "Can we talk, Hermione?"

"Sure, Harry. What is it? More condescending remarks?"

He winced. "I deserved that. Look, I'm sorry. You were right. After everything we've been through together… For me not to trust you would be stupid. The war… It changed you. You're not like my little sister anymore. I don't have to protect you, even though I want to, and it's going to take me a while to get used to that. Okay?"

She was stunned. She thought they had stopped caring about her, but she had apparently been wrong. "Of course it's okay, Harry. And I'm pretty sure you were always like my little brother anyway," she joked, playfully punching him in the arm.

"Hermione!" Blaise said, running up to her. "Draco- he's hurt!"

"Where?"

"Hospital Wing."

She took off running before he could say anymore, taking the stairs two at a time. 'Please, Gods,' she prayed, 'Let him be okay.'

The hospital wing was abuzz with activity. "Good, he found you," McGonagal said as she entered.

"What happened?"

"Mr. Malfoy was attacked, of all things. Someone stabbed him outside the library. We have the wound closed up, but he needs a blood transfusion."

"Okay. Let's get him to St. Mungo's."

"There's no time, and we don't think he would survive apparating there. Miss Granger, you're a match to his blood type. I know how you feel about him…"

Hermione was already stripping down to her tank top and skirt. "Point me to where I need to go."

McGonagal took her stuff and lead her to a bed next to Draco's. There was blood everywhere, and they were just starting to clean it up. Draco- who was already pale enough- looked translucent against the stark white hospital bed.

"Who did this?" she hissed.

"We're not sure. No one saw it, and he was there for quite some time before anyone found him."

"Dearie, take this," Madame Pompfrey said and handed her a potion to drink. "It will help keep you going so you don't faint. We need to take quite a bit. You'll be hooked up almost right to him. Have you ever donated blood?"

"Yes."

"Good. Then you know almost what to expect. Lay down, there's a girl. This will only hurt for a second."

Hermione lay still while the transfusion was started, then watched as everyone bustled about, cleaning up Draco's blood from the floor, ushering people out. Only Blaise, who watched Draco for any sign of improvement, and McGonagal stayed behind. Dumbledore stopped by for a few minutes to speak briefly with her and Madame Pompfrey before offering Hermione words of encouragement and leaving. After close to an hour, Madame Pompfrey did some tests an declared that they could stop the transfusion.

"Will he be alright?" Blaise asked.

"Yes, he'll be just fine. He just needs to sleep."

"Good… That's good…" he whispered and walked over to Hermione. "Thank you so much. He's like my brother, you know? The only family I have left after the war." He hugged her. "Maybe I'll make you dinner this week."

"I'll do the cooking, thank you very much. I'd like to survive the mean, you know."

He laughed. "Thanks, 'Mione. I'm proud to have you as a friend."

"Of course. Now please go rest. You heard Madame Pompfrey, he'll be just fine."

"You're right. Plus, I bet everyone's worried."

"Then go ease their minds."

He squeezed her hand and left. She was grateful since she was beginning to feel the effects of the transfusion.

"When did this change occur, Miss Granger? Friends with Blaise Zambini?" McGonagal asked as she came over to Hermione's bed to check on her.

"Well Draco and I got over some of our issues, and last night he had some friends over. We all hung out and I made dinner and they're just really cool people, you know?"

"I am… astounded. I really thought you'd kill each other."

"And here I am saving his life."

"I suppose you are. Why don't you rest now? That potion must be wearing off by now."

"Yeah…" she mumbled, and McGonagal pulled the blanket up to cover her. She noticed Hermione was looking at Draco, concern etched into her features.